13 Healthy Back-to-School Snacks Your Kids Will Actually Love

Your sons and daughters are probably just as tired of granola bars and potato chips as you are

Obesity doesn’t differentiate when it comes to age. It’s estimated that nearly 10 percent of American children ages 2 to 5 are overweight, and research suggests that children’s eating habits can develop as early as 12 to 24 months of age. That doesn’t mean slipping spoonfuls of mashed kale into a baby’s pear purée or fortifying a bowl of cereal with flax seed, but it’s still important to begin feeding children nutritionally balanced diets at an early age.

Unfortunately, many packaged snacks geared toward children aren’t the best for them. There seems to be a belief that children are unsophisticated eaters, but in reality, they can actually be quite adventurous. Most of the time, getting kids to eat healthier snacks is just a matter of being creative. A school lunch box is the perfect place to introduce children to new foods because — and I know it sounds like tough love — they have few other alternatives. Granola, trail mixes, yogurt cups, dips, and sandwiches are always great options for kids because they’re simple to make, don’t need to be heated, are easy to eat, and provide a solid amount of nutrients.

But offering the same snacks day after day can get a little monotonous. So let these 13 recipes for healthy back-to-school snacks spark your imagination. Your kids will thank you.